Project R-1517

Layout of development scenarios and implementation paths for a new mobility plan Flanders. (Research)

Like most Western countries and regions, Flanders knew during the past decades a general economic prosperity. There seems to be no measure to the increasing internationalization and globalization process, one of the main driving forces behind the explosive growth in both passenger and tonne-kilometers. To maintain a sustainable balance between economic development and the rapid expansion of passenger and freight traffic, the policy-makers must watch over this growth-rhythm and implement long-term strategies to promote the effectiveness of all transportation modes and encourage those that have a intermodal and multimodal approach. On federal level they indicate the following actions for sustainable mobility: improving the energy-efficiency of road transport, making an offer to rail transport for goods more attractive, encouraging intermodality, promoting inland shipping and stimulating the shipping at sea over short distances. On the policy-level of Flanders in view of 5 strategic objectives there was already stated that the policy should aim at controlling the mobility, environmental pollution and environmental nuisance, reducing the traffic unsafety and ensuring reachability, liveability and accessibility. At European level, the European Commission presented a debate on transport scenarios for the next 20 to 40 years to develop a general policy for sustainable mobility. The choice of partners was based on the specific and proven national and international expertise in each of the domains of the assignment. The quest for sustainable mobility requires a multidisciplinary approach to face up to a wide range of challenges.

15 January 2009 - 31 January 2014